Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

844 can judge best,’ he pointed out, ‘‘ when they know how their shadows shall fare.” There was a click of Lansdell’s cigarette- lighter, the shooting up of the tiny flame, then an almost explosive flash. “Thus!” replied Lansdell. ‘‘ By fire!” And heard the sound of running feet as, terror-stricken, those men who had left the group now fled at top speed. Dukut laughed. ‘‘ No shadow was de- Stroyed,” he asserted calmly. ‘‘ Even as my brothers ran, ran their shadows along at their side. I saw.” He gave Lansdell a shove riverward. The white man trembled with rage. “I may go down,” he said in English, ‘“ but I’]] take this rascal with me!” ‘“ Philip, don’t quarrel with them any more,” she pleaded. ‘If vou make them anery, they’re likely to—to do terrible things.” They moved on, and as they went the Dyaks about them still kept up their argu- ing. ‘I saw no shadow_run away,” vowed one man. ‘“ The shadows all were burned.” And a second man replied: ‘‘ How can this man and this woman do us harm with fire after they go down into the water?”’ ‘That shall be soon seen,” Lansdell re- torted boldly. But he was at his wits’ end, and torn with pity for the half-fainting girl beside him. It came over him that the kindest service he could do for her would be to put out her life on the spot. “This is the cruelest thing!” he mourned. ‘I'd give my own life to save you!” Then groaning out in anguish, suddenly he caught her to him, wrapping his arms about her, holding her close. It was not the embrace of a lover, neither was it a Drother’s embrace. her, and he was putting himself between her and her tormentors. ‘“ Marcia,” he soothed, ‘I’m going with you—right through the door itself! I'll be with you every second. Every second!” Clinging to him, she laid her face in the hollow of his shoulder. ‘I’ve given up,” she sobbed. She was like a child again, pil- lowing her head while she wailed out her utter misery. He vearned to comfort: ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, Unmanned by her suffering, and un- ashamed, he also wept. ‘‘ Now! now!” he said chokingly, pressing her wet cheek against her own, ‘‘ You'll sleep before the water touches you, blessed little woman!” Thev forgot that scores of eyes were watching. But the Dyaks waited through that farewell more than patiently; they were keenly interested. To them, the heartrending scene was pure entertainment. As thev stared, they whispered, exchanging opinions on the odd conduct of the white people. There was no grinning, however; neither was there pity, though all were grave. Dukut spoke: “Let his eyes flow with water, since he prizes water highly. Yes, let him rain down eye-water, for are not the women and the little ones of Moeara Koli out in the forest even now, hiding for their lives?” ‘“ Our forefathers came up this river rid- ing upon fishes,” boasted one man. ‘‘ Suree ly, then, the great lady at least came down from heaven to earth.” Lansdell lifted his head. ‘‘ The great lady goes from earth to heaven,” he said, and prayed that he was speaking the truth. Without a trace of mockery the man continued. staring at the two, big-eyed. ‘““ But with much regret,” he pointed out. Lansdell gave a bitter laugh. ‘“‘ Ah, that’s it!” he said to the trembling girl. “‘ They think we’re scared, Marcia. Are we, poor little girl? Shall we take our medicine now?” At that, she straightened, and stood upon her own feet without help. °‘I can bear it,” she whispered. “ You come with me. And, Philip, could—could you say some- thing before they—they—? I mean a prayer.” Now he laughed wildly. ‘I feel more like killing than praying! I could run amuck if I wasn’t helpless. I’d show ’em!”’ ‘“I—I know a Psalm,” she said broken- ly. ‘‘I—TI think Ill say it. We can’t go as if we were animals.” He put his arm about her. dear! Say it!” he begged. They went forward slowly, and her voice began quaveringly: “ The heavens declare “Say it, Conn GIOok